Always glad to read an intelligent post!
Collectors need to take it upon themselves to learn prices. Use all the guides they can. Ask questions but most of all attend some shows. Get to know some dealers you are comfortable with. There are several chip shows with the Casinorama coming up Oct. 16th. Hopefully in the future we will see more chips at general collectible shows.
This board is a source of education as well but I see it can be so damaging at times. It's too bad they have tried to take a nice guy like Captbanjo & make him look bad. I think perhaps its due to his quoting my book. I know many don't like my book with the big prices but its reality that chips are worth over $800 as Chip Rack used to quote as the highest price. Once my book came out they took their prices higher in their next guide. It was reality. Now the top chips are triple my 4 year old prices.
Everyone has a different budget. To some it does not matter if they pay $10 or $1,000 and what the chip is "booked" for. I tried to put accurate retail prices, the prices chips were selling at in my book 4 years ago. I cant believe its been that long!